Skewer Chess Puzzles — Rated 1000

10 skewers rated between 1000 and 1199, averaging 1107. Each position below is from a real game, with the solution given underneath — so you can check yourself immediately rather than guessing whether you were right.

A skewer is a pin turned around: the valuable piece is in front, and when it moves the piece behind it falls. Skewers usually appear on open lines and long diagonals, which is why they are far more common in the endgame than in the opening.

These are pitched at beginners. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1000 is one that players around 1000 solve about half the time, so if you are getting most of these you should move up a band.

Solving from a page is good for pattern recognition but not for tracking progress. The rated puzzle trainer serves puzzles matched to your own rating and adjusts as you solve, and the Mistake Trainer builds puzzles from positions you actually got wrong in your own games.

Skewer puzzles rated 1000

  1. Skewer puzzle 1, rated 1050h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1050 · Black to play after Rc1
    Show solution

    Qa3+ Kc2 Qxe3

  2. Skewer puzzle 2, rated 1043a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1043 · White to play after hxg6
    Show solution

    Rxh8+ Kd7 Rxb8

  3. Skewer puzzle 3, rated 1106a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1106 · White to play after Rxe3
    Show solution

    Rd8+ Ke7 Re8+ Kd6 Rxe3

  4. Skewer puzzle 4, rated 1169a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1169 · White to play after Ke5
    Show solution

    Bc7+ Kd4 Bxf4

  5. Skewer puzzle 5, rated 1102a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1102 · White to play after Kg4
    Show solution

    Rg3+ Kh5 Rxh3+ Kg5 Rxh8

  6. Skewer puzzle 6, rated 1172h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1172 · Black to play after Ne7
    Show solution

    Rf1+ Kg3 Rxf6

  7. Skewer puzzle 7, rated 1051h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1051 · Black to play after Ke5
    Show solution

    Qe2+ Kd6 Qxe8

  8. Skewer puzzle 8, rated 1139a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1139 · White to play after Kh4
    Show solution

    Rh6+ Kg3 Rh3+ Kf4 Rxc3

  9. Skewer puzzle 9, rated 1177a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1177 · White to play after Rxh4
    Show solution

    Bd8+ Kf5 Bxh4

  10. Skewer puzzle 10, rated 1061a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1061 · White to play after Ke4
    Show solution

    Re2+ Kd3 Rxe5

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Frequently asked questions

What is a skewer in chess?

A skewer is a pin turned around: the valuable piece is in front, and when it moves the piece behind it falls. Skewers usually appear on open lines and long diagonals, which is why they are far more common in the endgame than in the opening.

What does a puzzle rating of 1000 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1000 is one that players rated around 1000 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1107, so they suit beginners.

Are these skewer puzzles free?

Yes. Every puzzle on this page, including its solution, is free to view with no account. The rated trainer that tracks your progress and serves puzzles matched to your rating is part of Chess Ramp Premium.